Push button rongeur

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a Rongeur for surgical use. The disclosed Rongeur has a push button actuator which, upon activation, allows the long parts of the Rongeur to be easily separated for thorough cleaning and sterilization for reuse.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/419,344 filed Feb. 3, 2015, which is the National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2013/053192 filed Aug. 1, 2013,which claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/679,316filed Aug. 3, 2012.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of medicalinstruments. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improvedRongeur having a push button actuator to allow the separation of itslong parts to facilitate improved cleaning and sterilization.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In surgical procedures, a Rongeur is used to remove a small amount oftissue or bone material. Critical to the reuse of Rongeurs in successiveprocedures is the need to thoroughly clean the instrument of biologicalmaterial and other contamination so as to thoroughly sterilize theinstrument. A number of Rongeurs have been developed to facilitate thecleaning and sterilization of their various components. Designs forthese Rongeurs include making them able to be disassembled, cleaned andsterilized, and reassembled for subsequent use. This requires skilledtechnicians and an extended time for cleaning. More recently, a Rongeurhas been developed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,531, Weber) which allows thelong parts of the Rongeur to be totally separated from each other suchthat the top long part of the Rongeur remains attached at an obtuseangle to the body of the Rongeur by an attachment means. While this isclearly an improvement over Rongeurs requiring disassembly andreassembly, it presents a complex design requiring, among other things,the release of its drive pin from its driving slot.

Accordingly, there is a need for a Rongeur that is simplified instructure with fewer parts, yet facilitates cleaning and sterilizationfor subsequent use by allowing direct access to the long parts of theRongeur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a Rongeur with a simpler, moreelegant design with fewer parts which allows direct access to the partsin need of cleaning and sterilization by allowing the separation ofthose parts with a push button actuator.

In the present disclosure, a Rongeur is presented having a fixed bottomshaft and a movable top shaft (the long parts). The top shaft isslideably connected to and axially aligned with the fixed bottom shaft.The top shaft has a distal end with a cutting portion and a proximal endcontaining a cavity across which a drive pin is connected. Once theRongeur is assembled, the drive pin remains captured by the driving holeof the front handle. When the push button actuator is activated, themovable top shaft is retracted slightly to allow the separation of themovable top shaft from the fixed bottom shaft to an acute angle therebetween. This allows full and direct access to the long parts forcleaning and sterilization.

Some embodiments of the present approach may take the form of a Rongeurwith a top shaft with a proximal end having a cutting edge and a distalend hingedly connected to a front handle, the top shaft configured forsliding engagement with a bottom shaft having a rear handle at a distalend, the front handle pivotally connected to the rear handle andconfigured for a retracted position, a first extended position, and asecond extended position. The retracted position may be configured toslide the top shaft proximally such that the cutting edge approaches aproximal end of the bottom shaft. The first extended position may beconfigured to slide the top shaft distally a first distance. The secondextended position may be configured to slide the top shaft distally asecond distance greater than the first distance. The Rongeur may have apush button actuator having a biased position and an actuated position,the biased position configured to block the second extended position,and the actuated position configured to permit the second extendedposition. Some embodiments may incorporate a slot and correspondingprotrusion that form a sliding connection between the top and bottomshafts. In some embodiments, for example, the Rongeur has a bottom shaftcomprising at least one slot which is configured to receive at least onecorresponding protrusion, wherein the corresponding protrusion extendsaway from a bottom surface of the top shaft. In some embodiments, theprotrusion is T-shaped. In some embodiments, the push button actuatorincludes a groove configured to receive a portion of the front handlewhen in the actuated position. The push button actuator may include acompression spring which maintains the push button actuator in a normalposition while the Rongeur is in use and which is depressed to activatethe push button actuator. The Rongeur may have a front handle thatincludes a drive hole on its proximal end. The drive hole may beelongated to allow movement of a drive pin attached to the top shaftwhile the top shaft is in a released position. The drive pin may remainin the drive hole while the Rongeur is in use and when the top shaft isseparated from the bottom shaft.

While the present invention is directed to a more simplified Rongeurrequiring fewer parts, while facilitating cleaning and sterilization, itmay apply to various other specific types of Rongeurs. Moreover, thepresent invention also applies to other types of medical instrumentsthat have inaccessible surfaces that are difficult to properly clean orsterilize.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the Rongeur in cuttingposition ready for use.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the Rongeur with themoveable top shaft separated at an acute angle from the fixed bottomshaft and ready for cleaning.

FIG. 2B is a cut away view of the cavity of the proximal end of themoveable top shaft of an embodiment of the Rongeur and of the slot ofthe fixed bottom shaft where it interacts with the front handle.

FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the parts of an embodiment of theRongeur.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged exploded view the parts of an embodiment of theRongeur.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the push button actuator of the Rongeur.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the push button actuator in theRongeur.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention in whichtop shaft (10) is in a normal cutting position relative to fixed bottomshaft (1), ready for use. Top shaft (10) is slideably connected to, andaxially aligned with fixed bottom shaft (1). Top shaft (10) has aproximal end with a cutting edge (11) and a distal end containing acavity (9) (shown in FIG. 2B) orthogonally transversed by drive pin(12). Fixed bottom shaft (1) has a proximal end with a foot plate (4)and a distal end forming rear handle (2). At the transition of bottomshaft (1) to rear handle (2) lies the interaction of front handle (13)with fixed bottom shaft (1) and push button actuator (20). Front handle(13) is pivotally attached to rear handle (2) and is held in the open ornormal position by lever spring (5). Lever spring (5) resists againstthe compression of front handle (13) toward rear handle (2) and keepsthe Rongeur in normal position. Top shaft (10), when slidingly engagedwith fixed bottom shaft (1) as shown in FIG. 1, may be retractedslightly by depressing the push button actuator (20) which allows theseparation of top shaft (10) from fixed bottom shaft (1) to at least anacute angle (40) (shown in FIG. 2A). Also shown in FIG. 2A, is slot (3)which is medially centered on fixed bottom shaft (1) at its transitionto rear handle (2). The separation of top shaft (10) from fixed bottomshaft (1) at angle (40) allows direct access to all surfaces of the longparts of the Rongeur for cleaning and sterilization. Once cleaning andsterilization occurs, simply returning top shaft (10) to slideableconnection with fixed bottom shaft (1) returns Rongeur to fully operablecondition and ready for the next use.

Some embodiments may include a slot and corresponding protrusion thatform a sliding connection between the top and bottom shafts. One shaftmay include a slot, and another shaft may include a protrusionconfigured to be received in the shaft. When the slot and protrusion aremated, the top and bottom shafts may slide axially, but thecross-sectional shape of the shaft and the protrusion may be configuredto retain the protrusion within the shaft. For example, both may have aT-shape. It should be appreciated that other shapes may be used. Thisinterlocking configuration prevents the top shaft from disconnecting.The shaft may include a wide region configured to allow the protrusionto exit the slot, such as when it is desired to release the top shaftfor cleaning purposes. FIG. 2A shows an embodiment in which distal slot(3) in bottom shaft (1), which is configured to receive a distalprotrusion (18) which extends away from a bottom surface of top shaft(10) toward bottom shaft (1). Bottom shaft (1) includes proximal slot(17) which is configured to receive proximal protrusion (19), which inthis embodiment extends away from a bottom surface of top shaft (10). Itshould be appreciated that the relative locations of protrusions andslots may vary in other embodiments. Protrusion (18) and protrusion (19)are configured to permit the top shaft (10) to slideably engage withbottom shaft (1), when the top shaft is in the closed position. Proximalslot (17) includes a wide region, sized and shaped to allow protrusion(19) to release from slot (17) if the top shaft (10) is in a releasedposition and hinged open at the hinged connection. It should beappreciated that when the top shaft is returned to the closed position,the distal protrusion (19) returns into distal slot (17) through thewide region, reestablishing the slideable engagement. In thisembodiment, slot 3 also includes a wide portion. In some embodiments,the top shaft comprises (10) comprises at least one protrusion (18). Insome embodiments, protrusion (18) and protrusion (19) are T-shapedprotrusions. It should be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape mayvary in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, protrusion(18) and protrusion (10) may be Y-shaped, clover-shaped, etc., and mayhave different shapes in the same embodiment. It should be appreciatedthat the specific protrusion numbers and shapes shown are demonstrative,and that the scope of the present approach is not limited to only thestructures shown.

Depicted in FIG. 3A, front handle (13) has a proximal end (15)containing drive hole (14) and a distal end forming front handle (13) ofthe Rongeur. Turning to FIG. 2B, the proximal end (15) of front handle(13) is fitted through slot (3) of fixed bottom shaft (1) and intocavity (9) of top shaft (10) whereby drive hole (14) receives drive pin(12). In this simple design, once the Rongeur is assembled, drive pin(12) is never released from drive hole (14) during the use of theRongeur in a medical procedure or thereafter in an activated positionduring cleaning and sterilization. FIGS. 3A and 3B further show theparts of the push button Rongeur. The proximal end (15) of front handle(13) has rear surface (16) which contacts actuator shaft (23) (shown inFIG. 4) when the push button actuator (20) is in normal position andready for use.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of push button actuator (20). Push buttonactuator (20) is comprised of a compression spring (21) and shaft (23)containing groove (22).

Shown in FIG. 5 is a cross section of the push button actuator (20) innormal position before actuation. The push button actuator (20) isoperably connected to fixed bottom shaft (1). Compression spring 21 hasa distal end (28) attached to an inner wall in slot (3) of fixed bottomshaft (1) and a proximal end (29) contacting push button actuator (20).Before activation, compression spring (21) is extended holding pushbutton actuator (20) in its normal position. Push button actuator (20)is depressed to an activated position (not shown) by pushing push buttonactuator (20) toward fixed bottom shaft (1) [the direction shown byarrow (25)], thereby compressing compression spring (21). On actuationof push button actuator (20), rear surface (16) of front handle (13)(FIG. 3B) slips into groove (22), thereby allowing top shaft (10), whichis engaged with drive pin (12) through drive hole (14) in the proximalend of front handle (13), to be slightly retracted from the outercircumference of shaft (23), to contact the surface of groove (22). Topshaft (10) may then be separated from fixed bottom shaft (1) to an angle(40) (shown in FIG. 2). The separation of top shaft (10) from fixedbottom shaft (1) to angle (40) makes the parts of the Rongeur readilyaccessible for cleaning and sterilization. This separation of the longparts to angle (40) is facilitated by the movement of drive pin (12)within drive hole (14) which is elongated to accommodate the movement ofdrive pin (12). Drive pin (12) remains captured by drive hole (14) atall times while the Rongeur is in use and while is long parts areseparated for cleaning.

After cleaning, top shaft (10) is returned to contact with fixed bottomshaft (1), compression spring (21) returns push button actuator (20) toits normal position, and the Rongeur is ready for use (FIG. 1). Whenready for use, top shaft (10) is slideably connected to fixed bottomshaft (1) and held in a forward position by the contact of rear surface(16) of front handle (13) (FIG. 3B) with shaft (23) of push buttonactivator (20) (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The foregoing detail of the disclosed embodiment of the push buttonRongeur is not intended as a limitation on other configurations of thepush button actuator which may be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed inventionas defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A Rongeur comprising: a top shaft with a proximalend having a cutting edge and a distal end hingedly connected to a fronthandle, the top shaft configured for sliding engagement with a bottomshaft having a rear handle at a distal end when in a closed position,and to hinge open at the hinged connection when in a released position;the front handle pivotally connected to the rear handle and configuredfor a retracted position, a first extended position, and a secondextended position; the retracted position configured to slide the topshaft proximally such that the cutting edge approaches a proximal end ofthe bottom shaft; the first extended position configured to slide thetop shaft distally a first distance; the second extended positionconfigured to slide the top shaft distally a second distance greaterthan the first distance and position the top shaft into the releasedposition; and a push button actuator having a biased position and anactuated position, the biased position configured to block the secondextended position, the actuated position configured to permit the secondextended position.
 2. The Rongeur of claim 1, wherein one of the topshaft and the bottom shaft comprises at least one slot configured toreceive a corresponding protrusion, and the other of the top shaft andthe bottom shaft comprises the corresponding protrusion; wherein thecorresponding protrusion is configured to slidably mate with the slotwhen the top shaft is in the closed position.
 3. The Rongeur of claim 2,wherein the protrusion is T-shaped.
 4. The Rongeur of claim 1, whereinthe push button actuator comprises a groove configured to receive aportion of the front handle when in the actuated position.
 5. TheRongeur of claim 1, wherein the front handle comprises a drive hole onits proximal end, wherein the drive hole is elongated to allow movementof a drive pin attached to the top shaft while the top shaft is in thereleased position, thereby permitting the top shaft to hinge open to atleast an acute angle from the bottom shaft when the push button actuatoris in the actuated position.
 6. The Rongeur of claim 5, wherein thedrive pin remains within the drive hole while the Rongeur is in use andwhen the top shaft is separated from the bottom shaft for cleaning andsterilization.
 7. The Rongeur of claim 1, wherein the push buttonactuator further comprises a compression spring which maintains the pushbutton actuator in a normal position while the Rongeur is in use andwhich is depressed to activate the push button actuator.
 8. A Rongeurcomprising: a top shaft with a proximal end having a cutting edge and adistal end hingedly connected to a front handle, the top shaftconfigured for sliding engagement with a bottom shaft having a rearhandle at a distal end when in a closed position, and to hinge open atthe hinged connection when in a released position; the front handlepivotally connected to the rear handle and configured for a retractedposition, a first extended position, and a second extended position; theretracted position configured to slide the top shaft proximally suchthat the cutting edge approaches a proximal end of the bottom shaft; thefirst extended position configured to slide the top shaft distally afirst distance; the second extended position configured to slide the topshaft distally a second distance greater than the first distance andposition the top shaft into the released position; a push buttonactuator having a biased position and an actuated position, the biasedposition configured to block the second extended position, the actuatedposition configured to permit the second extended position; and one ofthe top shaft and the bottom shaft comprises a slot configured toreceive a corresponding protrusion, and the other of the top shaft andthe bottom shaft comprises the corresponding protrusion; wherein thecorresponding protrusion is configured to slidably mate with the slotwhen the top shaft is in the closed position.
 9. The Rongeur of claim 8,wherein the push button actuator further comprises a compression springwhich maintains the push button actuator in a normal position while theRongeur is in use and which is depressed to activate the push buttonactuator.
 10. The Rongeur of claim 8, wherein the correspondingprotrusion is configured to release from the slot when the top shaft isin the released position.
 11. The Rongeur of claim 10, wherein the slotcomprises a wide region configured to allow the corresponding protrusionto release from the slot when the top shaft is in the released positionand hinged open.
 12. The Rongeur of claim 8, wherein the push buttonactuator further comprises a compression spring which maintains the pushbutton actuator in a normal position while the Rongeur is in use andwhich is depressed to activate the push button actuator.
 13. The Rongeurof claim 8, wherein the push button actuator comprises a grooveconfigured to receive a portion of the front handle when in the actuatedposition.
 14. The Rongeur of claim 8, wherein the front handle comprisesa drive hole on its proximal end, wherein the drive hole is elongated toallow movement of a drive pin attached to the top shaft while the topshaft is in the released position, thereby permitting the top shaft tohinge open to at least an acute angle from the bottom shaft when thepush button actuator is in the actuated position.
 15. The Rongeur ofclaim 14, wherein the drive pin remains within the drive hole while theRongeur is in use and when the top shaft is separated from the bottomshaft for cleaning and sterilization.